Disposable litter package having a scraping blade

ABSTRACT

A flexible bag body portion has a substantially rigid blade element permanently attached to one side wall thereof adjacent the open mouth of the bag body portion. A flexible closure flap is carried by the opposite side wall of the bag body portion and has an adhesive sealing area to coact with a like area on the side wall of the body portion carrying the blade element. The bag is sealed with the litter and the blade element therein prior to disposal.

Unite States atet ein [54] DISPOSABLE LITTER PACKAGE rim/ms A sc LE [72] Inventor: Stanley R. Klein, 175 W. Ninety-third Street, New York, N.Y. 10025 [22] Filed: April 19, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 135,041

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l5/l04.8, 15/236 R, 15/257.9, 206/47 R, 229/53, 229/62 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47l 13/52 [58] field oiSearch ..15/104.8, 257.1, 257.6, 257.9; 150/7; 229/48 SB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,384,223 9/1945 Wilbur... .....229/48 SB UX 2,649,604 8/1953 Hess ..15/257.1 UX

3,286,826 11/1966 Stoll ..206/47 R 3,534,424 10/1970 Levinson ..15/257.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 686,894 5/1964 Canada .229/48 SB 12,183 5/1909 Great Britain ..229/48 SB Primary ExaminerDaniel Blum Attorney-B. P. Fishbume, Jr.

[ ABSIRACT A flexible bag body portion has a substantially rigid blade element permanently attached to one side wall thereof adjacent the open mouth of the bag body portion. A flexible closure flap is carried by the opposite side wall of the bag body portion and has an adhesive sealing area to coact with a like area on the side wall of the body portion carrying the blade element. The bag is sealed with the litter and the blade element therein prior to disposal.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented July 18, 1972 F/G Z I I I I INVENTOR STANLEY R. KLEIN ATTORNEY DISPOSABLE LITTER PACKAGE HAVING A SCRAPING BLADE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The rapid increase of urban populations coupled with the increasing popularity of dogs and other pets has created a serious sanitary problem in connection with the disposal of dog litter. In recognition of this growing problem, a number of large cities have recently enacted ordinances requiring dog owners under penalty of a fine to retrieve and dispose of litter created by their pets. This, in turn, gives rise to an immediate need for a highly simplified, economical, and convenient disposal device which is sanitary and which enables the user to package the litter without the use of other implements and to seal the same in a hygienic manner before ultimate disposal in an approved manner.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to satisfy the above need by the provision ofa very economical unit which is easy to use and which is self-sealing with all contaminated surfaces arranged inside of the container body portion.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a litter disposal package embodying the invention showing the same in a closed and sealed condition.

FIG. 2 is another side elevation of the package with the closure flap and blade attachment extended.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the blade attachment.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view showing a further step in the use of the package.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the package closed and sealed with the litter therein.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates a dog litter disposal package in its entirety comprising a preferably rectangular bag body portion 11 having an integral longitudinally extended flexible closure flap 12 formed as an extension on one side wall 13 of the body portion. The opposite side wall 14 of the bag body portion terminates at the base of the flap 12 and the open mouth of the bag body portion is formed between the two side walls 13 and 14 at the terminal edge 15 of the side wall 14, as shown. Preferably, the bag body portion 11 including its two side walls 13 and 14 and the closure flap 12 are formed of a thin highly flexible tough plastic of the type commonly used for lining garbage or trash cans. In some instances, other flexible sheet material may be employed, such as coated paper, foil or the like.

Attached to the side wall 14 adjacent the terminal edge 15 is a relatively stiff or rigid blade attachment 16 which is employed as a scraping and lifting element in connection with the retrieving and packaging of litter in a sanitary manner. The blade element 16 may be formed of stiff cardboard, plastic or the like and may be permanently secured to the bag side wall 14 in any preferred manner. In the illustrated embodiment, a longitudinal extension 17 of the side wall 14 is attached to the blade element 16 with staples 18. In lieu of this, stitching or riveting could be employed. If compatible materials are involved, the blade attachment could be heat sealed to the bag side wall 14. Preferably, although not necessarily, the blade element 16 is somewhat tapered toward its leading end and is somewhat narrower than the overall width of the bag body portion, as best shown in FIG. 2. These details may be varied somewhat. Also, the overall dimensions of the bag body portion and blade attachment may be varied to meet the particular needs of the situation. In all instances, however, the

general proportions indicated in the drawings will prevail and the device will consist of an open-ended ba with a permanently attached substantially rigid blade e ement and a readily foldable closure flap which may be sealed.

In connection with the sealing of the package, the exterior of bag side wall 14 is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive strip or area 19 spaced from and parallel to the edge 15. A coacting pressure-sensitive adhesive strip 20 is formed on the interior face of the closure flap 12 near the free edge thereof. Both of these adhesive portions may be protected prior to use by readily removable masking strips 21. When the package is finally sealed, after closing, as shown in FIG. 6, the two adhesive strips 19 and 20 are pressed into contact.

In using the device, the first step is shown in FIG. 3 where the blade element 16 is manipulated to scrape up or pick up the litter. With the mouth of the bag held open and the flap 12 extended, the litter is delivered to the inside of the bag by simply swinging the blade element 16 inwardly around the edge 15 so that both the litter and the blade element are now disposed inside of the bag with the flap 12 still extended. This is shown in FIG. 4.

Following this, the flexible flap is folded over to close the mouth of the bag, FIGS. 5 and 6, and the flap 12 overlaps the side wall 14 and the two adhesive strips 19 and 20 are pressed into contact after removal of the masking material 21. As best shown in FIG. 6, the package is firmly sealed with the litter and the blade 16 fully enclosed in the bag body portion. The litter package is now disposed of in any approved manner.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A litter disposal package comprising a flexible material open mouth bag body portion having a flexible closure flap on one side wall of the body portion extending considerably beyond the leading edge of the opposite side wall, a relatively rigid blade element secured to said opposite side wall and extending for a substantial distance beyond said free edge and adapted to be manipulated as a scraper and lifting element for litter and adapted to be swung with the litter through the open mouth of the bag body portion so as to be positioned bodily inside of the bag body portion, and coacting adhesive sealing means on the closure flap and said opposite side wall of the bag body portion.

2. The structure of claim 1, and said sealing means comprising strips of pressure-sensitive adhesive on the interior face of said flap and on the exterior face of said opposite side wall in spaced relation to said free edge.

3. The structure of claim 1, and an integral extension on said opposite side wall of the bag body portion, said blade element permanently attached to said extension.

4. The structure of claim 1, and said blade element being a substantially flat plate-like element and being somewhat narrower than the overall width of the bag body portion and being centered between the longitudinal edges of the bag body portion.

5. The structure of claim 4, and said bag body portion and closure flap formed of thin highly flexible tough plastic, and said blade element comprising a relatively thick stiff sheet material element.

6. The structure of claim 2, and said pressure-sensitive adhesive strip on the interior face of said flap disposed adjacent to the leading edge of the flap, said coacting strip of pressuresensitive adhesive on said opposite side wall being parallel to said free edge and spaced from the free edge a distance approximating the length of the flap when the flap is extended beyond the free edge, whereby folding of the flap on the free edge will bring said strips of adhesive into face-to-face contact. 

1. A litter disposal package comprising a flexible material open mouth bag body portion having a flexible closure flap on one side wall of the body portion extending considerably beyond the leading edge of the opposite side wall, a relatively rigid blade element secured to said opposite side wall and extending for a substantial distance beyond said free edge and adapted to be manipulated as a scraper and lifting element for litter and adapted to be swung with the litter through the open mouth of the bag body portion so as to be positioned bodily inside of the bag body portion, and coacting adhesive sealing means on the closure flap and said opposite side wall of the bag body portion.
 2. The structure of claim 1, and said sealing means comprising strips of pressure-sensitive adhesive on the interior face of said flap and on the exterior face of said opposite side wall in spaced relation to said free edge.
 3. The structure of claim 1, and an integral extension on said opposite side wall of the bag body portion, said blade element permanently attached to said extension.
 4. The structure of claim 1, and said blade element being a substantially flat plate-like element and being somewhat narrower than The overall width of the bag body portion and being centered between the longitudinal edges of the bag body portion.
 5. The structure of claim 4, and said bag body portion and closure flap formed of thin highly flexible tough plastic, and said blade element comprising a relatively thick stiff sheet material element.
 6. The structure of claim 2, and said pressure-sensitive adhesive strip on the interior face of said flap disposed adjacent to the leading edge of the flap, said coacting strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive on said opposite side wall being parallel to said free edge and spaced from the free edge a distance approximating the length of the flap when the flap is extended beyond the free edge, whereby folding of the flap on the free edge will bring said strips of adhesive into face-to-face contact. 